System for licensing mobile applications, features, and devices

• US 10,693,876 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2013
• Issued: 06/23/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Inventors: Wiltgen, Charles, Le Vasseur, Lisa, Matsuo, Kotaro
• Primary Examiner(s): Nigh, James D
• Application Number:
  US13/785,200
• Publication Number:
  US 20130179987A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,667 Days
• Field of Search: 705 59
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources

Abstract

A system for licensing an application or feature for use on a wireless mobile device is disclosed. The wireless mobile device is provided to a user with a licensable application or feature, but the application or feature has not been fully authorized for use. When the wireless device receives a request to use the application or feature, the wireless device operates the requested application or feature, and generates an irrevocable license request. The license request is transmitted to a license server at a time convenient for the wireless device. The license server generates a license certificate to the application or feature, and transmits the license certificate to the wireless mobile device. The wireless device receives the license certificate, which is stored in local memory. Accordingly, the application or feature is now fully licensed for future operation on the wireless mobile device. The license server operates accounting processes to generate license reports and license accounting information.

Claims

1. A method of operating a wireless mobile device, the method comprising:

storing a local application, that is installed in the wireless mobile device, and a threshold;

activating, for the first time, the local application that has never been licensed on the wireless mobile device, in response to request from a user;

determining whether a communication link between the wireless mobile device and an application server is active or is not active;

in response to determining that the communication link is not active when activating the local application for the first time, the method further comprising;

allowing the user to use the local application without the local application being licensed;

starting, at the wireless mobile device, a counting period which elapses from when the local application is activated for the first time; and

displaying, at the wireless mobile device, a message that indicates the local application has not been licensed when activating the local application next time after the counting period exceeds the threshold.

2. The method according to claim 1, if the communication link is not active when activating the local application for the first time, the method further comprising:

restricting, at the mobile terminal device, the user from using the local application when activating the local application again after the counting period exceeds the threshold.

3. The method according to claim 2, in response to determining that the communication link is not active when activating the local application for the first time, the method further comprising:

transmitting, from the wireless mobile device to the application server, a license request when activating the local application next time and when the communication link is active;

receiving, at the wireless mobile device, a license transmitted from the application server, in response to the transmitting;

storing, at the wireless mobile device, the license; and

skipping, at the wireless mobile device, the transmitting when activating the local application after the next time if the license is stored in the wireless mobile device.

4. The method according to claim 1, in response to determining that the communication link is active when activating the local application for the first time, the method further comprising:

transmitting, to the application server, a license request for a license;

receiving the license transmitted from the application server, in response to the transmitting;

storing the license in the wireless device; and

skipping the transmitting, if the license is stored in the wireless mobile device, when activating the local application next time.

7. The method of claim 1, in response to determining that the communication link is not active when activating the local application for the first time, the method further comprising:

utilizing a temporary use counter to count the counting period.

5. A wireless mobile device comprising:

a memory configured to store a local application that is installed in the wireless mobile device; and

a controller configured to;

activate, for the first time, the local application that has never been licensed on the wireless mobile device, in response to request from a user;

determine whether a communication link between the wireless mobile device and an application server is active or is not active;

in response to the controller determining that the communication link is not active when activating the local application for the first time, the controller further configured to;

allow the user to use the local application without the local application being licensed;

start a counting period which elapses from when the local application is activated for the first time; and

display a message that indicates the local application has not been licensed when activating the local application next time after the counting period exceeds a threshold.

6. The wireless mobile device of claim 5, wherein if the communication link is active when activating the local application for the first time, the controller is further configured to:

transmit, to the application server, a license request for a license;

receive the license transmitted from the application server, in response to the transmitting;

store the license in the memory; and

skip the transmitting, if the license is stored in the memory, when activating the local application next time.

8. The wireless mobile device of claim 5, in response to the controller determining that the communication link is not active when activating the local application for the first time, the controller further configured to apply a temporary use counter to count the counting period.

9. A method of operating a wireless mobile device by at least a program stored in non-transitory computer readable medium, the method comprising:

in response to a request from a user, activating for the first time, a local application installed in the wireless mobile device;

determining whether the local application has been licensed on the mobile device;

in response to determining that the local application has not been licensed on the mobile device, determining whether a communication link between the wireless mobile device and an application server is available;

in response to determining that the communication link is not available and the application has not been licensed,

allowing the user to use the local application without the local application being licensed;

starting, at the wireless mobile device, a counting period which elapses from when the local application is activated for the first time; and

displaying, at the wireless mobile device, a message that indicates the local application has not been licensed when activating the local application next time after the counting period exceeds a threshold.

10. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing at least a program for operating a wireless mobile device, the medium comprising:

at least a program;

an application; and

a threshold, and

wherein the at least a program enables the wireless mobile device on which the program is installed to;

activate, for the first time, the application that has not been licensed on the wireless mobile device, in response to request from a user;

determine whether a communication link between the device and an application server is active or is not active;

in response to determining that the communication link is not active when activating the local application for the first time, the program further enabling the wireless mobile device to;

allow the user to use the application without the application being licensed;

start, at the wireless mobile device, a counting period which elapses from when the local application is activated for the first time; and

display, at the wireless mobile device, a message that indicates the application has not been licensed when activating the application next time after the counting period exceeds the threshold.

11. A method comprising:

receiving a request by a user to use a local application for a first time, the local application installed on a wireless device;

in response to the request, determining whether the local application has been licensed on the mobile device;

in response to determining that the local application has not been licensed, determining whether a communication link between the wireless mobile device and an application server is available; and

in response to determining that the communication link is not available and the application has not been licensed;

allowing the user to use the local application for the first time without the local application being licensed;

transmit a license request for a license to the application server when the communication link becomes available; and

receive the license from the application server in response to the license request.